🏭 Factory Design Pattern

The Factory Method Pattern is a creational design pattern that:

Defines an interface for creating objects.
Lets subclasses decide which class to instantiate.
Decouples the client code from the actual classes being created.

Escape Room Example Scenario

In your escape room:

You want to create different puzzles (CipherPuzzle, RiddlePuzzle, LockPuzzle).
Instead of using new CipherPuzzle(), new RiddlePuzzle() everywhere, you use a PuzzleFactory to handle creation.
This makes it easy to add new puzzle types without rewriting client code.

Puzzle Interface

// Product interface
public interface Puzzle {
    void play();
}

Concrete Puzzle Classes

// Cipher puzzle
public class CipherPuzzle implements Puzzle {
    @Override
    public void play() {
        System.out.println("Decoding a mysterious cipher...");
    }
}

// Riddle puzzle
public class RiddlePuzzle implements Puzzle {
    @Override
    public void play() {
        System.out.println("Solving a tricky riddle...");
    }
}

// Lock puzzle
public class LockPuzzle implements Puzzle {
    @Override
    public void play() {
        System.out.println("Trying to pick the lock...");
    }
}

Puzzle Factory

// Factory class
public class PuzzleFactory {
    public static Puzzle createPuzzle(String type) {
        switch (type.toLowerCase()) {
            case "cipher":
                return new CipherPuzzle();
            case "riddle":
                return new RiddlePuzzle();
            case "lock":
                return new LockPuzzle();
            default:
                throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unknown puzzle type: " + type);
        }
    }
}

Using the Factory in the Game

public class EscapeRoomGame {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Create puzzles via factory
        Puzzle puzzle1 = PuzzleFactory.createPuzzle("cipher");
        Puzzle puzzle2 = PuzzleFactory.createPuzzle("riddle");
        Puzzle puzzle3 = PuzzleFactory.createPuzzle("lock");

        puzzle1.play(); // "Decoding a mysterious cipher..."
        puzzle2.play(); // "Solving a tricky riddle..."
        puzzle3.play(); // "Trying to pick the lock..."
    }
}

Sample Output

Decoding a mysterious cipher...
Solving a tricky riddle...
Trying to pick the lock...

Why is this Useful in a Game?

Centralized creation: All puzzle creation is handled in one place.
Easy to extend: Add a new LaserPuzzle → just add a case in PuzzleFactory.
Flexibility: You can randomize puzzle generation (pick one at random for each room).
Decoupling: The game doesn’t need to know about concrete puzzle classes.

Next Step Ideas 💡

Create an ItemFactory (flashlight, magnifying glass, lockpick).
Use Abstract Factory to generate whole rooms (a set of puzzles + items).
Combine with Strategy Pattern so that factory-created puzzles come with a solving strategy.

✅ Key Takeaway:
The Factory Pattern centralizes and abstracts object creation, making it easier to manage puzzles, items, or rooms in your escape room game.